Tithi Pravesha

Introduction By Sanjay Rath and P.V.R. Narasimha Rao

Tithi Pravesha is the Annual Horoscopy of Jyotish. The Tajika System of annual horoscopy employs a chart cast for every year of life based on the solar return (i.e. sun’s return to its natal sidereal position). Many scholars of history and Vedic Studies have held a view that this system is primarily not ‘Vedic Astrology’ and might be a borrowed feature from Yavanas or Tajikas, who interacted with Indian scholars. Notwithstanding the peculiar yoga’s like Iṭṭasāla, Easarpha etc. nor divisional charts like Aṣṭāṁśa (D-8) etc., which are not a part of Parāśara’s available teachings, outstanding scholars like Nīlakaṇṭha and Dr Raman set a precedent by accepting the Tājaka system as a branch of Vedic astrology.

However, the solar calendar has been widely followed in India only since Varāhamihira started Vikrama Saka. India had been following the Vedic luni-solar calendar for millennia. When Maharshis like Valmiki and Vyasa mentioned the timing of events in epics like Ramayana and Mahabharata, they identified events only by the tithis. It maybe interesting to note that traditional Hindu’s celebrate their birth days (called Jayanti or Janma tithi) on the Vedic date (Tithi) of the luni-solar calendar instead of the date of Sun’s return. All festivals (except for Sankrantis) commemorating the birthdays of deities, Gurus etc are also based on the luni-solar calendar of Tithi. For example, Hindus celebrate Lord Rama’s birthday on the Sukla Navami Tithi of Chaitra month every year and Lord Krishna’s birthday on the Krishna Ashtami Tithi of Sravana month. If birthday as per the luni-solar calendar is more important than birthday as per the solar calendar, why do we cast a chart for Varsha pravesha (commencement of a new year) based on birthday as per the solar calendar? Does it not make sense to cast a chart for the commencement of a new year based on birthday as per the luni-solar calendar of tithis?

In fact, not only does it make sense, but the technique of annual horoscopy using the luni-solar calendar is one of the most reliable techniques – and hence a guarded secret – taught by tradition for fine predictions.

Tithi

Tithi is the Vedic date of the luni-solar calendar and is a measure of the angular displacement of Moon from Sun. It is known that the period between two consecutive full moon’s (i.e. exact 180° displacement of the Moon from the Sun) is about 29.5 civil days. The total movement of 360° of the angle between the Luminaries in transit in a month was divided by 30 to obtain a measure of 12° called ‘Tithi’ (luni-solar day). Tithi is the period in which the angular displacement of Moon from Sun increases by exactly 12°. There are fifteen tithi (15 x 12° =180°) in the waxing phase (śukla pakṣa) and fifteen tithi is the waning phase (kṛṣṇa pakṣa). The displacement angle = Longitude of Moon – longitude of sun. When this angle is divided by 12°, we get an index to the tithi, starting from śukla pratipada.

The Luminaries

A child is a product of both parents and the importance of the Moon, even over the Sun in the determination of fortune is a well established aspect of Vedic Astrology. The tripod of life is the ascendant (body), Sun (soul) and Moon (mind). In another sense, these are self (Lagna), Father (Sun) and Mother (Moon). It is but natural that a better definition of the moment of birth would be the angular displacement of the Moon from Sun, instead of just the natal Sun position. This is the Janma Tithi.

We should be equally careful to ensure that such a definition does not dilute the importance of the sun as it is the representative of the real self/the soul. For this purpose Maharshis have defined the twelve sunsigns (or simply signs of the zodiac) called Dwadasa Aditya. These define the boundaries within which the Sun’s placement causes it to have the specific form of a ‘deva’ and a ‘Jyotirlinga’. Thus the longitude of Sun in a sign is not as relevant as its placement in the very sign itself and this fact is taken as an ‘anchor’ for drawing the annual charts. As the soul is the anchor of our existence, Sun’s transit in its natal sign signifies the figurative re-establishment of this anchor, i.e. a new beginning (In fact, it is because of this re-establishment of anchor that marriage is prohibited in the solar month of birth).

Such an anchorage would be meaningless without a consideration of the ‘Mind’ – the emotions, sustenance and fruits of existence. Thus including the Moon’s ‘angular return’ along with the annual solar natal sign anchorage defines the astrological Janma Tithi return.

Though birthday as per the luni-solar calendar is traditionally celebrated when janma tithi returns in the same lunar month (which is identified based on the signs occupied by Sun and Moon at the beginning of the month), this definition was probably adopted for ease in civil usage. The most astrologically acceptable definition is based on janma tithi and sunsign (sunsign at janma tithi return and not sunsign at the beginning of the month). This is the most perfect method for defining the moment that is the closest in emulating the moment of birth. Hence, this is the ‘truest astrological birthday’ or rather ‘birth moment’.

Tithi Pravesha Chakra

As outlined above, the definition of the annual birth moment is the moment when Sun transits its natal sign and the Moon is at the exact displacement angle from Sun (degrees, minutes & seconds) as at birth.

Pravesha means entry or return and Tithi Pravesha Chakra is the chart drawn for the birth moment of Tithi return every year. If the angle from Sun to Moon matches that in the natal chart, it means that the Tithi running is the same as birth Tithi and also the fraction of Tithi remaining is the same as at birth. If someone was born with Sun in Aries on Chaitra Sukla Navami with 25% of the Tithi remaining, the native’s astrological luni-solar new year will commence every year when Sun is in Aries and Sukla Navami is running with 25% of the Tithi remaining. A chart cast for this moment for the longitude and latitude of the birthplace – irrespective of where the native is currently living – will throw light on the events during the coming year. This chart is called “Tithi Pravesha” (TP) chart.

11 comments

Thank you so much for sharing this wonderful information, it seems so logic now; but I would never have imagined without your guidance.
If I can ask a question; how should we approach the years containing adhika and nija months?
For an example: should a native born in the month of Bhadrapada, upon a year with both, adhika and nija, bhadrapada; which should be reckoned for that years Tithi Pravesha chart?
Thank you for your kind consideration.

Sir,
That was a wonderful explanation for celebrating a person’s birthday. However, I would like to know if we should celebrate birthdays on janma tithi or nakshatra?. But I always thought, it should be janma nakshatra in the janma rashi (sun’s). Most of the time, these two dates coincide. Normally janma tithi and janma nakshatra falls on the same day. But in case of janma nakshatra and janma tithi falling on different dates, which one should I be following, janma nakshatra or janma tithi?

For example, I was born on 8th Dec 1964 in Sravana Nakshatra and Sukla Panchami Tithi. This year (2013) Sravana Nakshatra falls on 7th December (2013) and the tithi is also Sukla Panchami. But in year 2004 Sravana Nakshatra falls on 18th November but the tithi is Sukla Sapthami. In such cases, what One should do?
Thanks,
S.Gurumanickam.

Gurumanickam Prabhu, Thanks to the traditions of India, we know that for all devata, we follow only the Janma Tithi. Janma Tithi is the real date of birth. Janma Nakshatra is used for certain puja and japa that protects us and gives long life, like the mtryunjaya mantra japa.

Hrim Gurave Namah
Guruji, thank you for this great principles. I have some problem with calculations though.
– When I punch in Rath TP for 1990 in JH, it shows that 1990 TP Aug 09, (with planetary positions shown on slides) Vara is Thursday and not Monday as used for explanation. Regular calendar also confirm August 9th 1990 was Thursday.
– Gandi TP chart – shown on slides is casted for Oct 14 1906 , and vara for that day was Sunday- not Monday as used for explanations.
Please help me resolve this. Is there something that I have missed in calculations or interpretations?
Kind regards, Ognjen

Well, it seems Mr. Rath is talking about the Hora lord, which is Moon for both his 90-91 chart, and Gandhi’s 1906 chart. The weekday/vara is not moon in both. Even on the first slide of Mr. Rath’s chart, on the top, at the title it is written Hora: Moon.

So it is a bit confusing for me also, as in all the videos he talks about Vara, Weekday, the Day lord, but on the charts it seems we are always talking about the hour/hora lord. If this can be clarified it would be useful.

You mentioned that when ninth lord is in 7th dispositor in sixth – the individual wont work in what he studied in college. Why is that so. How about if ninth lord is bhadak and is in 6th dispositor in 12th…Do we apply the same principles in TP
Thnx

In TP it applies for a year.
9th lord shows college learning and when this is in 7H (ksaya) then this knowledge goes away or becomes useless. Similarly 6L conjoining 9L or 6H, 9H association is not condusive for this use of learning

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Pt.Sanjay Rath belongs to a traditional family of astrologers from Bira Balabhadrapur Sasan village of Puri, Orissa, which trace their lineage back to Shri Achyuta Das (Sri Achyutananda).Students | Others

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